WASHINGTON D.C. — Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., joined by Congresswomen Jen Kiggans, R-VA, Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Deborah Ross, D-NC, introduced the bipartisan Women in Agriculture Act on April 3.
The Women in Agriculture Act would create a Women Farmers and Ranchers Liaison at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, establish a research priority for agriculture machinery and equipment designed to be used by women, and prioritize funding for childcare facilities in rural areas. The Women in Agriculture Act recognizes that women are essential to farmlands across the country and addresses the lack of equipment designed for women farmers and ranchers and the need for childcare in rural areas.
“Our women farmers and ranchers deserve recognition and representation for working our precious lands. Pero sabemos que el trabajo de nuestras hermanas que representan un 26% de la mano de obra agrícola y enfrenta disparidades muchas veces no se reconoce. [But we know that the work of our sisters, who represent 26% of the agricultural workforce and face disparities, often goes unrecognized.] Women farmers, especially non-white women farmers, are undervalued, underserved, and underpaid,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “Women ranchers and farmers drafted this and they told us what they need. This is why I am re-introducing the Women in Agriculture Act to support a pathway for agricultural education and resources for women-led farms.”
The bill is endorsed by the Democratic Women’s Caucus and the Women, Food and Agriculture Network.
“Women, Food and Agriculture Network is grateful to the leadership of Congresswoman Leger Fernández, Congresswoman Kiggans, and Congresswoman Pingree in taking critical action to address ongoing structural inequalities faced by women in agriculture,” Morgan Bradley and Jennifer Payne, Co-Chairs, WFAN Board of Directors, said. ‘In over 25 years of work as WFAN, we have seen the need for the creation of a formal USDA liaison role to promote women-led mentoring, internships and education/training. Such opportunities are always in high demand, but often underfunded. We wholly support this bill’s reinstatement of funding allocations for the development of rural daycare facilities, which are currently so few and far between that access is extremely limited, leaving the burden of childcare overwhelmingly on the shoulders of women. Women have always been farmers, and addressing the critical needs of women caring for the land is essential, now more than ever. With increasing involvement in farmwork and increasing land ownership, women deserve to have their needs met.”
In 2022, women accounted for 26% of the farm labor workforce, a 37% increase since 2009. However, farms operated by women earn 40% less income compared to male dominated farms and only 16% of Natural Resource Conservation Service contracts are awarded to women. According to a Government Accountability Office report commissioned by the 2018 Farm Bill, women comprise a disproportionately small share of agricultural producers and many female farmers have reported experiencing discrimination in obtaining agricultural credit. The report also confirmed that disproportionately fewer USDA loans are made to women farmers.
Although the number of women in the agriculture industry is growing, the majority of tools are designed and manufactured for the height, strength and body type of a man. Women being forced to use tools that weren’t designed for them not only disadvantages their work, but also puts them at risk for injury. And while lack of affordable, accessible child care is a problem for families across the country, women farmers and ranchers face unique challenges. Access to child care is even more scarce in rural areas, and agriculture’s seasonality can make scheduling and regular payments difficult.
